Horton Is Once Again Champion

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 491, 22 October 1928, Page 7

Horton Is Once Again Champion

RANKS FIRST AS GOLF MATCH-PLAYER A CLOSE FINAL (Special to THE SUN) DUNEDIN, Saturday. Following out the forecast of The Sun, made two or three weeks ago, T. H. Horton, Masterton, concluded his splendid performances at the New Zealand golf championships by winning the amateur championship title to-day, thus repeating his 1925 success at Miramar. It was generally believed, when Horton drew with K. Ross, Otago, in the semi-final of the New Zealand amateur golf championship at Balmacewan, that the winner of this match would be very likely to win the final, though it was recognised that J. L. Black, Otorohanga, was the possessor of such indomitable fighting qualities that he, too. would have to be seriously taken into account. So it proved. Horton beat Ross one up after a great match and faced Black in the final to-day. Conditions could hardly have been worse than was the case in the morning, when a stiff wind was blowing from the south-west, light showers of rain were falling, and the greens and fairways were heavy after the overnight rain. Under these circumstances it was only to be expected that the scoring would not be up to the earlier standard. Still, over the first 18 holes, both players were disappointing. Horton was two up, having gone round in 80 to his opponent’s S2. Horton’s long game was better, and while both were putting weakly, Black was worse, and missed several easy putts. The conditions improved in the afternoon, and much better golf was witnessed, the issue being in doubt to the very finish. It was a grimlyfought duel, and, while in the afternoon Horton’s putting let him down more than once, his long game was superior to that of his opponent, and this played no small part in his success. He outdistanced Black practically to every hole. Black played much better golf in the afternoon. He did the outward half in a brilliant 35, to Horton’s 38, but it took Black 42 to come home to his opponent’s 40. Starting out in the afternoon Black won the 19th hole, and squared the match at the 20th. At the 21st Black made a beautiful drive, finishing on the green 15ft from the pin. Horton was within two feet of the hole with his third, but Black holed his putt for a brilliant two, which made him one up—a great start-off. Four halves followed, but Horton won the 26th to square. Both had good drives away at the next, Horton being 30yds the longer. Both approached up we.l, Black being loft past and Horton about Bft short. Black holed his putt brilliantly for a three, and then down went Horton’s for a half. The match was square at the turn, and it fluctuated greatly over the inward | half. I When the pair reached the home

green it was all square. Horton got away a beautiful drive, but Black pushed his out, running through a bunker and stopping in a bad lie on the grass bank. He had to use a niblick for his second, and got a good shot out, about forty yards ahead of his opponent’s drive. Horton played a very good brassie shot to the edge of the green, and Black’s- third was quite good, but was pulled, finishing on the green, but to the left. Horton got a very good approach putt to within two feet of the hole, and Black was badly short with his fourth and missed holing his fifth This left. Horton two for the hole, and Black conceded him his putt, Horton winning an exciting match and the championship one up. CLUB MATCHES The following are the results of club matches: — One Tree Hill.— Medal: A. Tindall, 9, 25, 72; J. Methven, 78—5, 73; A. Cole, S 9— 14, 75; T. Goudie, 89—14, 75. A ladies’ C grade match was won by Mrs. G. A. Hardley. Auckland Ladies. —Following are the results of the fourth round of the match play tourney for the W. R. Wilson Cup: Mrs. Rutherford (12) defeated Mrs. Fratei (28), 4 and 2; Mrs. Finn (21) defeated Miss D. Lever (14), 4 and 3; Miss P. Orr (14) defeated Miss S. Henderson (21), a and 4; Mrs. Smith (14) defeated Miss F. Rathbone (S). 4 and 3; Mrs. Green (14) defeated Miss E. Mahoney (21), 2 up; Miss G. Buddie (13) defeated Mrs. Croft (14), 1 up; Miss L. Roberton (18) defeated Mrs. Cox (19), 6 and 5; Miss E. M. Upton (6) defeated Mrs. Wright (14), 3 and 1. Glendo wie Ladies. —The members of the Glendowie Ladies’ Golf Club held their annual meeting on Saturday, when the captain, Mrs. Warren, presented the prizes. The championship was won by Mrs. G. McMillan, who holds the Blanc Cup for a year Miss O. English was runner-up. The silver medal was won by Mrs. F. Browne, and the bronze medal by Mrs. Hayes. The captain’s match was won by Miss N. Appleyard. The match play tourney for Mrs. Hintz’s trophy was won by Mrs. McMillan. Mrs. McMillan’s trophy was won by Mrs. Hayes, who returned the bast net medal scores in the L.G.U. matches in July, August and September. The Cameron Cup was won by Mrs. Hayes. Akarana. —Bogey: J. M. Brown, 3 up: J. McKenzie, 1 up: A. G. Young, 1 up: S. Coltman. all square; TV. R. Swanson, 1. down; J. Budge, 2 down; E. F. Bay ley, 2 down; H. B. Taylor, 2 down. FAWCETT WINS AT SYDNEY SYDNEY, Sunday. The amateur champion golfer of New South Wales, C. Fawcett, won the champion of champions match with a score of 152 His rounds were 77 ar.d 75 _______